A MULTI FAITH commemoration service for the two men who died in the Canary Wharf bombing last year was held at St Luke's Church, London, yesterday. Prayers were said "so that the seeds of national arrogance and fear can never be sown again".
The bomb, which ended the IRA's 17 month ceasefire, had made locals nervous and many needed counselling after losing their homes and businesses, said the vicar of St Luke's, Father Adrian Walker.
However, a year later, said Father Walker, many of his parishioners had grown closer because of the bombing and people were showing signs of getting their confidence back. Yet many people remained resentful at the lack of financial support from the government "and that media attention and aid was given to the business community in preference to the local residents".
The service was attended by many locals and was advertised as "open to all". Many said they wanted to pay their respects to the two victims and pray for peace in Northern Ireland.
Father Walker said his prayers represented the needs "of all kinds of people". There were readings from the Quran, as well as from Jewish and Christian scriptures. The service ended with a prayer written by the Primate of Ireland, Archbishop Robin Eames.
. Many of the relatives of those who were killed or injured by the Canary Wharf bomb have asked a London television station to withdraw a poster which advertises the London Tonight programme with the words: "We were there at the end of the IRA ceasefire.
The poster, hung in London underground stations and his stops in recent weeks, shows a picture of an office building destroyed by the bomb beside the words: "At 6.57 p.m., the Canary Wharf bomb exploded. At 7.25 p.m., it hit over a million people."
The use of the word "hit", said the relatives, was particularly offensive and they argued that the timing of the poster was "insensitive".
Mr John Jefferies, whose son, John, was killed by the bomb, said he was upset when he first saw the poster.
"I just choked up when I saw it. It's a bit sick really and not in good taste. That bomb didn't hit a million people, it hit my son and the other man who died."
The Carlton television network which produces the London Tonight news programme made no comment last night.